Lesson Planet Article
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Ideas for Activities and Discussions About the U.S. Constitution

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Incorporating lessons about the foundation of the U.S. Constitution can invigorate the minds of students.
Lesson Plan
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Reflections on Judicial Power - Part I

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research the Constitutional provision for the Judicial branch of government. They examine different U.S. founder's positions on the relative strength of the judicial branch and act as a review court for Marbury vs. Madison.
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Judicial Learning Center

The Judge and the Jury: Trial by Jury

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Why is it so important to have a trial by jury in the American judicial system? This right is one of the hallmarks of American democracy, but it also comes with the responsibility of serving on a jury if called. Young legal scholars...
Lesson Plan
Judicial Branch of California

Balancing Act: The Three Branches

For Teachers 5th Standards
What do hula hoops and the American system of government have in common? Using hands-on station activities, pupils consider the roles of the three branches of government. A script for teachers and writing prompts help round out a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Norman Rockwell, Freedom of Speech: Know It When You See It

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the U.S. Constitution. In this First Amendment lesson, students examine Norman Rockwell's "Freedom of Speech" and analyze the five freedoms listed in the amendment.
Lesson Plan
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Bill Of Rights

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine Supreme Court cases. In this U.S. government lesson, students watch a video about the Bill of Rights and then research 4 Supreme Court cases using the noted web site. Students analyze the presented information and write...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

1930 Census and the Consitution

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Young scholars read the Constitution and discuss the importance of enumeration. In this Census lesson, students complete a Census schedule and discuss the job skills of applicants. Young scholars research Census data to compare and...
Lesson Plan
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Using Primary Sources to Discover Reconstruction

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders discover how reconstruction had an impact on racial issues in the United States. In this Reconstruction lesson, 5th graders are introduced to primary vs. secondary resources and then rotate through stations to view...
Activity
iCivics

Do I Have a Right? Bill of Rights Edition

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
In an online engaging and animated game, pupils role play as lawyers charged with protecting rights found in amendments to the United States Constitution. As they choose appropriate amendments to match the right that has...
Lesson Plan
Deliberating in a Democracy

Cyberbullying—Alternate Lesson Plan

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Should schools be permitted to punish young scholars for off-campus cyberbullying? After reading a passage that details statistics about cyberbullying and Supreme Court rulings about schools' ability to limit student speech,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The First (and Last) Words

For Teachers 6th - 12th
What does "freedom of speech" mean to your class, especially in the context of Internet communications? In round-table discussion format, middle and high schoolers address the issues discussed in "State Legislatures Across U.S. Plan to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Equal Protection of the Law: Fact or Fiction

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers focus on the 14th Amendment of the Bill of Rights to decide whether or not racism denies citizens of their rights under the amendment. They watch a movie, Every Two Seconds and complete a worksheet (included in the plan)...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Bills of Rights: Cutting It down to Size

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders explore democratic values. In this U. S. Constitution lesson, 8th graders read the Bill of Rights and consider the significance of the amendments. Students design a governmental time capsule that includes their own plan...
Lesson Plan
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The Bill of Rights: Debating the Amendments

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the Bill of Rights. In this U.S. Constitution lesson, students participate in classroom debate regarding the first 10 amendments to the Constitution. Students then vote for the amendments they would like to ratify.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bill of Rights: Rights and Responsibilities

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students explore the Bill of Rights. In this U.S. Constitution lesson, students consider the individual liberties outlined in the Bill of Rights as they read the provided handouts and complete the provided worksheet activities.
Lesson Plan
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The Second Amendment and the Right to Bear Arms

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers interpret the Second Amendment. In this U.S. Constitution lesson, students examine the right to bear arms as they compare 2 Michigan Supreme Court cases and discuss their personal interpretations of the amendment.
Lesson Plan
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Impeachment of Andrew Johnson

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the impeachment proceedings of Andrew Johnson. In this U.S. Constitution lesson, students listen to their instructor present a lecture on the details of Andrew Johnson's impeachment and Reconstruction. Students...
Lesson Plan
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The Bill of Rights

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students classify the Bill of Rights. In this U.S. Constitution lesson, students complete provided readings and worksheets in order to define, identify and analyze each of the amendments and explain why they were included in the...
Lesson Plan
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Divided We Fall

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the Bill of Rights. In this U.S. Constitution instructional activity, students write essays for perform plays that feature the importance of the first ten amendments. Students imagine the United States without 1 of the...
Lesson Plan
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Teaching Six Big Ideas in the Constitution

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Learners debate the constitutional principles of the United States. In this U.S. government lesson, students examine the meaning of the text of the U.S. Constitution and analyze other primary documents of the era. Learners prepare for...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

We The People

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students consider the main concepts of the Preamble of the United States Constitution They research different issues explored in the Constitution which have both historic and modern connections.
Lesson Plan
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Constitution and the Bill of Rights

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore the information of the index of the Constitution. For this Constitution and Bill of Rights lesson, 4th graders complete a worksheet by locating keywords in the index. Students understand the importance of using an...
Lesson Plan
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Lesson 2: The First Inaugural Address (1861)—Defending the American Union

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the content of Abraham Lincoln's First Inaugural Address. For this Abraham Lincoln lesson, students analyze the text of the speech to determine how Lincoln sought to preserve the Union from secession attempts.
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Magna Carta: Cornerstone of the U.S. Constitution

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers use the Internet to read a brief description of Magna Carta (link provided). They "walk through" the document with the teacher, identifying four major themes. Students read and discuss "The Rhetoric of Rights: Americans...

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